By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Honda CBR600RR (PC 40) vs Suzuki GSX-R 750 (L1)
Honda CBR600RR vs Suzuki GSX-R 750: fast is a given. What sets them apart isn't.
At the edge of a tight bend, the Honda CBR600RR doesn't beg for another downshift. Its midrange still pulls hard from the gear you're already in. On the Suzuki GSX-R 750, each downshift snaps home cleanly.
So which one do you buy?
The GSX-R 750 has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Edges it: GSX-R 750
On a circuit, the GSX-R 750 feels a little sharper. The margin is thin, and setup can close it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: GSX-R 750
In the twisties, the GSX-R 750 asks a bit less of you to go quickly. Credit harder acceleration. Call it a modest edge.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear advantage
The CBR600RR costs less, but that doesn't make it the better buy. Neither bike is the clear winner on value alone. Your choice depends on what you want the bike to do.
What makes each one tick
CBR600RR
With its engine packed in close to the middle of the frame, the CBR600RR turns in the instant the bar asks and holds its line once it's leaned over. A roll of the throttle well short of the redline brings real shove, and the engine doesn't feel peaky. Over a long ride, the compact seat and pegs fold a tall rider into a lean that starts to ache. The nose turns on a thought.
Nils rode the CBR600RR in Hungary in 2007, in Qatar in 2008, in Croatia/Dalmatia in 2013, and in Germany in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
GSX-R 750
There's a raw induction roar off the GSX-R 750 as the revs rise, and the engine never grabs the conversation from you. Not an angry animal. In everyday riding, the brake lever brings the bike down smoothly and doesn't ask for anything odd. The lever rewards clean, measured inputs.
Nils rode the GSX-R 750 in the Eifel in 2015, and in Andalusia in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The CBR600RR has the lower wet weight: 410 lb (186 kg) vs 419 lb (190 kg).
- The GSX-R 750 makes more peak power: 150 hp (110 kW) vs 121 hp (89 kW).
- The GSX-R 750 makes more peak torque: 64 lb-ft (87 Nm) vs 49 lb-ft (66 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not their thing
Neither of these is a mile-muncher. If big days are the plan, keep looking.
Don't look for a gap on commuting and running costs: there isn't one. Go by how each one fits you.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CBR600RR
What owners say
Strengths
- Excellent build quality and reliability
- Strong midrange for a supersport
Trade-offs
- Cramped riding position
GSX-R 750
Strengths
- Eager, never angry
- Commits on a light push
- Gearbox that just works
- Built for long, hard laps
- Bristling, free-revving engine character
Trade-offs
- Geared a notch too tall
- Stock brakes fade when hot
- Minimal electronic aids
- Firm suspension for road riding
Known problems to check before you buy
CBR600RR
- Fuel pump impeller may deform and cause failure Recall 24V864000 A recall covers certain 2007 and 2009-2017 CBR600RR models: improperly molded fuel pump impellers can deform, leading to sudden fuel pump failure and stalling.
GSX-R 750
- Mirror caps falling off The plastic mirror caps are held by fragile tabs that can break, causing the cap to detach while riding. Suzuki later supplied caps with longer tabs to fix the issue.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 10-year-old CBR600RR with a 10-year-old GSX-R 750.
- CBR600RR
- about $8,700
- GSX-R 750
- about $10,600
At ten years old, the Honda CBR600RR sits around $8,700 while the Suzuki GSX-R 750 runs about $10,600. That's a $1,900 gap in the CBR600RR's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 310 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CBR600RR | GSX-R 750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 410 lb (186 kg) | 419 lb (190 kg) |
| CBR600RR | GSX-R 750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 599 cc | 749 cc |
| Power | 121 hp (89 kW) | 150 hp (110 kW) |
| Peak power at | 13,500 rpm | 13,200 rpm |
| Torque | 49 lb-ft (66 Nm) | 64 lb-ft (87 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 11,250 rpm | 11,200 rpm |
| Top speed | 158 mph (255 km/h) | 170 mph (274 km/h) |
| CBR600RR | GSX-R 750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18.2 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| CBR600RR | GSX-R 750 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 54.1 in (1375 mm) | 54.7 in (1390 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CBR600RR | GSX-R 750 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Option (from 2009) | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Option | Not offered |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
